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Repeat offender who extorted teen with sex video gets jail term, caning

SINGAPORE — Having shown up drunk in court previously, a 21-year-old unemployed man appeared sober on Monday (July 23) as the District Court sentenced him to four years' in jail and three strokes of the cane for extortion and theft.

Naveenthiran Thevathas was sentenced four years’ in jail and three strokes of the cane for extortion and theft.

Naveenthiran Thevathas was sentenced four years’ in jail and three strokes of the cane for extortion and theft.

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SINGAPORE — Having shown up drunk in court previously, a 21-year-old unemployed man appeared sober on Monday (July 23) as the District Court sentenced him to four years' in jail and three strokes of the cane for extortion and theft.

In his sentencing remarks, District Judge Kenneth Yap told Naveenthiran Thevathas that despite being placed in a home for juvenile offenders and having gone through reformative training, he has not learnt a lesson.

Though Naveenthiran had submitted his mother's letter as a form of mitigation to explain his family's circumstances, District Judge Yap expressed sympathy, but stressed that "it does not justify the crime".

He added: "Just because you have difficulties in your life, that does not justify the crime. In the end, the victim here is yourself and your family."

Naveenthiran, who was supposed to be sentenced last Thursday, had turned up in court intoxicated and barely able to walk. He was escorted into the District Court by friends, family members, and several security officers. It earned him a harsh rebuke from District Judge Yap, who also revoked Naveenthiran's bail, and placed him in remand.

One of his offences involved extorting S$2,000 from a teenage boy on Feb 14 this year, together with two other accomplices, whose cases are still pending. Naveenthiran pleaded guilty to committing extortion on July 9.

The court heard that he hatched his extortion plot when he got hold of a mobile phone that contained sex videos of his 17-year-old male victim. It belonged to an 18-year-old girl.

Knowing that the victim was from a well-to-do family, Naveenthiran threatened to disseminate the video if the boy did not pay him S$50,000. Since the boy was only able to cough up S$2,000, Naveenthiran settled for the amount.

He was caught in February this year during a police operation, after the boy requested to meet him to pass the money. This is the second time Naveenthiran was prosecuted for extortion, with the first taking place in 2015, where at the age of 18, he was sent to reformative training.

For the offence of theft, the court was told that Naveenthiran had stolen an ATM card belonging to another person on March 16 last year at Woodlands MRT Station. He spent S$120 of his ill-gotten gains on taxi rides and products at convenience stores.

Represented by a lawyer, Naveenthiran expressed remorse, but District Judge Yap pointed out that his extortion plan was premeditated and sophisticated in nature.

In a parting shot to Naveenthiran, District Judge Yap said: "If you commit this kind of offences again, it will be an even heavier sentence."

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